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April 10, 2008 at 14:24:43
Wexler: A Lone Hero at the Petraeus/Crocker Hearings by Kevin Gosztola Page 1 of 2 page(s) |
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The silence and complicity of Congress is stunning. The way that Congress has allowed Bush and his Executive Branch to usurp its power over this war willfully is a blatant insult to our democracy and the American people. That the silence and complicity is intentional and not just a result of Congress trusting the Bush administration to "do the right thing" is even more insulting to this so-called free nation we Americans live in. The Congress' hearings with Petraeus/Crocker were yet another example to add to the potpourri of instances where Congress has outright failed America and its people. The questions asked by Republicans were virtually all along the lines of being able to continue the "mission" or occupation of Iraq with full support and what America needed to do or think in order to support the operations If they were from Democrats, it was even worse. The Democrats, seeking to continue their insidious electoral plan to come off as a purely anti-war party despite their acceptance of campaign contributions from defense contractors, their support of military contractors over in the Middle East, and their refusal to filibuster and stop funding of the Iraq war, asked questions that outright betrayed all the knowledge that Americans have of this war.
Transcripts of the event show that the Democrats were pushing Iraq as a "mistake." They were blaming the Iraqis for the situation that America is in because apparently when a country violates the sovereignty of another nation, kills millions of Iraqis, obliterates records its culture and history, and destroys that nation's infrastructure, it is that country's fault for all the problems the violator is incurring as a result of the policies the violator carried out.
It's like taking candy from a baby and then yelling at the baby, "Why is your candy all gone?"
Sadly, the line that Iraq was a "mistake" and the Iraqis are making it difficult for us to withdraw is how they plan to come off as anti-war this election season. They have no plans to become any stronger in their opposition to the war.
Those we can't count on to end this war (Republicans) and those we think we can count on (Democrats) have failed us. The Bush administration's actions in connection to this Iraq war should have every member of Congress talking about taking action on impeachment. Unfortunately, even people like Dennis Kucinich, who were highly vocal about impeachment, have gone silent.
Our expectations have been lowered so much that when Joe Biden was joshing or cajoling Petraeus and Crocker at the hearing it was magnificent to many so-called liberals in the blogosphere even though he did not signal he would be filibustering funding for the Iraq war or advocating that the House move on impeachment.
One man, Robert Wexler, a Democrat from Florida, shined in the hearing. He did his job. He asked for questions from his constituents to be asked at the Petraeus/Crocker hearing prior to it and acted upon the comments/questions he received from his constituents.
This is now the only Democrat worth sending money to for his future re-election or just for his WexlerWantsHearings.com campaign, which is a campaign for impeachment hearings.
Every other Democrat is a waste of money that could be used to keep us from entering a state of total poverty. Save it. And especially save the money you wish to send to Obama or Clinton.
Transcript of Wexler's heroic and moving exchange with Petraeus follows:
Congressman Wexler:
Thank you. General Petraeus, last week in anticipation of this hearing I sent an urgent e-mail asking my constituents and other Americans: if they were serving on this committee, what is the one question they would pose to you.
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Robert Wexler
Don't send Wexler your money. While its great he supports impeachment, he doesn't support Kucinich's bill HR1234 to end the Iraq occupation. Wexler also has said nothing about leaving Afghanistan and he also supports the terrorist state of Israel. Don't give your money to any candidate who supports the establishment or is supported by the establishment. Support Dean Santoro, Samm Simpson, and John Russell. There is also 1 good Green Party candidate and 1 or 2 candidates from Socialist parties in the state of Florida. by Ty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 888 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 at 3:33:11 PM
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Reply: How about those who are in office now?
I'm not interested in waiting until November to possibly correct the problems of complicity. The Congress has a duty to this country to step up and defend the rule of law. I do not know for sure but is it possible for pro-bono lawyers to put together a case to prosecute members of Congress who do not do their job and preserve the rule of law? Even if it isn't, it's sounding more like a good idea every day that the Congress continues to be a do-nothing Congress and every day Obama and Clinton and the progressives who support either of them allow Obama and Clinton to be complicit and weak on the war, civil liberties, and impeachment. by Kevin Gosztola (302 articles, 146 quicklinks, 81 diaries, 1082 comments [77 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 at 4:44:39 PM
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Candidate
Faye Armitage seems like a good candidate also. by Ty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 888 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 at 3:35:07 PM
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Wexler: A Lone Hero
I would love to hear from Kucinnich on why he remained silent. I am wondering if the Democratic party silenced him with threats of funding another Democrat to run against him (as they had Cynthia McKinney). Things have gotten so bad on both sides of the Aisle, I probably wont even show up at the poll this election. I am also wondering why Ron Paul didnt have anything to say either, a Republican supposedly against the war as well. I suppose the only place we can make ourselves felt is in the recruitment fight. They can pass laws and abuse power to tax us without representing our will, but they are not getting my grandson. If we can shut down the part of the machine that grabs the bodies to fight their war we can have an effect that way. by Brad (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 37 comments [7 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 at 3:46:37 PM
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Reply: So true
Sadly. Thanks for your comment. by Kevin Gosztola (302 articles, 146 quicklinks, 81 diaries, 1082 comments [77 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 10, 2008 at 4:14:22 PM
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Congress has failed the people
Brad, you make an excellent point. I have vociferously argued for years now that you cannot prosecute a war – no matter how much money or propaganda is in play – if there are no soldiers to engage in the hostilities. Despots and warmongers, regardless of their perverse desires – be it greed, avarice, imperialism or ego – need a constant source of obedient, duped and deluded young men and women to charge into the theatres of war, usually under the banners of whipped up, false patriotism with a heaping side dish of mendacity claiming, "You are doing God's work." Frank R. by Frank J. Ranelli (66 articles, 143 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 383 comments) on Friday, Apr 11, 2008 at 1:10:13 AM
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Reply: That's A "Tough Sell"
Convincing enough people that war is not good for children and other living things is a hard sell these days. The military/industrial complex continues to play the fear card with constantly adapting tactics to convince us that pouring all of our eggs into the military basket is the only choice that will guarantee our survival after the inevitable confrontation with "terrorists" that IS going to happen. The only question (according to them) is WHEN it will happen. They tell us that if we want to be the last one standing afterwards, we must confront these evil terrorists on OUR terms, rather than naively sitting back and waiting for them to attack us FIRST. They've done a great job dressing up their violent war to make it look like the only investment to guarantee our survival. After all, what good are hospitals, schools, roads and other niceties to us if we're not around to enjoy them? They cheer us on. "Go, Fight, WIN!" But they never tell us WHAT we will win. Only that we must continue to fight. by Kris Malmquist (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 40 diaries, 108 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Apr 11, 2008 at 3:05:44 AM
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Wexler.
Wexler may not be perfect but at least he listens to his constituents of which I was one but moved after Wilma damaged the house. Most of Wexlers supporters are Jews of which there are many in the Coconut Creek area so the Holocaust and other Jewish questions are his concerns. He asked us on impeachment and we said yes please, he asked us what question to ask Petraeus and we told him, so basically he did his duty. What of the other clowns who under the cloak of anti-war are simply going along with it, are they under the impression we're all stupid flag waving in god we trust morons. I'm an old man so all I can do is try with other old people to give the best advice I can from my experiences. Schools are where the young minds and attitudes are formed along with parental guidance so get along to the school and demand a curriculum based on fact, religion has no place in schools or the home any more than astrology has. Drum it into your children the Military is not a career any more than bank robbery is. Teach your children to listen to the wise and ignore the obvious devious characters that make up the present political sect. Take most things said or written by the mass media as propaganda. Above all tell them violence in any shape or form unless in DEFENCE is an aberration. by douglas kay (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 83 comments) on Friday, Apr 11, 2008 at 8:56:07 AM
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The Real Problem Is Congress and Complacency!
The real issue is the complicity and subservience of a Congress that has been neutered by the Bush administration. As a whole, they are worthless, and even though Bush and Cheney have broken more laws than any administration in history, the Congress is terrified to impeach the tyrants. Why? What has Bush and Cheney done to control what is supposed to be an independent body of representatives that were sworn to serve the people – not the criminals who are pulling their strings! With all of the wiretaps and NSA’s ability to listen-in to any conversation they want, this stinks and resembles the days when J. Edgar Hoover held most of his political enemies at bay by blackmail – exactly what I believe is occurring now. The Congress needs to be re-empowered, told by “the people” that we will ignore the dirt the Bush administration has on them if they will just perform their sworn duties. To make matters worse, Congress’s cowardice is being compounded by the people themselves; we have forgotten how powerful we are as a whole, and rather than shutting down this country through a general strike and demanding impeachment of those who have broken our laws, we the people are allowing it to happen. Who wants to participate in a general strike when most of us cannot afford to lose a minute of wages as millions of us teeter on homelessness and financial disaster? I have stated for over a year now that we need to throw off partisan bickering among ourselves and come together in a show of solidarity, not to make a political point, but to save our way of life! A one week general strike would force Congress to take action, and they would understand they are being backed by the people – who will not return to work unless they impeach the tyrants that are getting ready to attack Iran, which would be the "coup de gras" to our democracy as well as our economy if we allow it to happen. Every Blog and political site in America and abroad needs to forget their own agenda and come together as a force that cannot be reckoned with except by Congress fulfilling their duty to uphold our Constitution and rule of law. If we don’t take measures to force Congress into action, the slide into fascism will be unstoppable – and if we think it’s bad now, the future will be worse, probably even more than any of us are able to comprehend. Desperate times require desperate measures. We the people hold the key, however, there has not been a leader to emerge that will energize the people to take action. None of the Presidential candidates, each of whom could instigate such an action, have stepped forward to address the dire straits this country is in, instead debating issues that sidestep the real problems that spell doom to what little is left of our democratic republic. William Cormier by William Cormier (152 articles, 11 quicklinks, 21 diaries, 418 comments [9 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, Apr 11, 2008 at 9:54:53 AM
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